Fluid-operated tool.



L. W. GREVE.

FLUID OPP-.RATED Toor..

APPLICATION FILED 00T.1,1913.

Patented June 23, 1914-J 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

IMVENTOH i?? @W I P l L. W. GREVE. FLUID OPBRATED TOOL.

APPr IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 3.

1,100,825. l Patented June 23, 1914.

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Iiuurrm) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOIS W. GrIt'EVIE,A OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE CLEVELAND ROCK DRILL COMPANY, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF lOHIO.

FLU-ID-OPERATED TOOL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentenaune 23, 1914.

Application filed October 1, 1913. Serial No. 792,700.-

To all whom. it may concern Be it known that I, LoUIs W. GREVE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fluid-Operated Tools, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to fluid opera-ted tools or machines, and particularly to fluid operated' rock drills. The invention has for its primary objects; the provision of improved means controlled by the throttle valve whereby the movement',l of the hammer piston is stopped while permit-ting the drill rotating mechanism' to continue its operation; the provision of improved meansfor stopping and starting the actuation of the main controllingvalve without stopping the flow of air through the hollow drill steel;

and the provision of improved means controlled by the throttle whereby the exhaust port is closed and all of the air supplied to the machine is directed through the hollow drill steel when'the operation of the main controlling valve and the hammer pistonis stopped. One embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section with the ,operating parts thereof in one position, Fig. 2 is a similar longitudinal section through a portion of the machine, with the operating parts in another position, Fig. 3 is an enlarged Section through the machine at the throttle valve, and Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are diagrammatic sectional views through the throttle valve showing it in its various positions.

Referring first to the general arrangement of parts as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3, 1 is the main cylinder of the machine carrying the hammer piston 2 and the anvil 3; 4 is the cylinder of the main or controlling valve 5; 6 is the throttle valve for controlling the admission of fluid to the apparatus; 7 is the drill'stcel angular in crosssection and slidablyv but non-rotatably fitting the chuck 8; 9 is a transversely working piston for securing the step-by-step rotation of the chuck and the drill steel carried thereby; and 10 is a valve for controlling lthe movements of the piston 9.

The chuck 8 is operated by means of a ratchet wheel 11 engaged by a segmental member 12 toothed to fit the teeth of the .ratchet wheel and having its upper end engaged by the piston 9, so that the oscillation of' the piston rocks the member 12 back and 'forth and| causes a step-by-step rotationof the ratchet wheel 11 and the chuck 8 upon which it is mounted. This mechanism for securing the step-by-step rotation of the chuck and drill steel is shown,'described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 784,359, filed August 12, 1913, and no detailed explanation or claim with re;;pect to this structure is therefore made in the present application,

The hammer piston 2 is controlled from the valve` 5 whichlreciprocates and .alternately admits pressure to the opposite ends of the piston hammer to secure its reciprocation. Substantially the same valve mechanism and arrangement of ports for securing the reciprccation of the hammer piston is disclosed in the patent-` to Richards No. 929,111, of July 27th, 1909, and no claim is made for this specific mechanism or arrangement of ports. In view of the fact that this mechanism is a part of the prior art and fully disclosed in the patent to Richards, =only sufficient explanation of such mechanism will be made in the present application as is necessary to an understand- 'ing of my invention and improvement to be later explained. The relation of the valve 5 and hammer piston 2 will be most readily understood by a brief description of their operation. Then the valve 5 and hammer piston are in the position indicated in Fig. 1, fluid pressure from the throttle valve 6 is admitted through the passage 12, passes through the passage 13 in the plug 14, and thence through the inclined passage 15 to the groove 16 in the valve cylinder, thence to the groove 17, and finally to the front side of the hammer piston 2 via the passage 18. At this time pressure is being supplied to the chambers 19 and 20 at opposite ends of the valve 5, through the passages 21 and 22, the pressure in the chamber v19 being greater than that in the chamber 2O by reason of the fact that the'passage 21 is larger than the end of the passage 22 leading into the chamber 20, there. being a constant'discharge from cach of the chambers through the small passages indicatedV at the upper sides of the chambers.

Then the piston 2 moves to the rear as indicated in Fig. 2, it covers the ends of the passage 21 and the groove 22. The covering of the end of the passage 21 cuts o the supply of pressure to the chamber 19 at the end of the valve 5, so4 that the pressure drops in this chamber, while the covering of the groove 22 causes an increase in the chamber 20, such increase being due to the fact that the groove' is supplied with air from the inclined passage 15, by means of the passage 23. The valve 5 is thus moved to the left` to the position indica-ted in Fig. 2. .This movement to the left of course cuts oli' the supply of air through the passage 18 and permits a supply of air from the inclined passage 15 to the left hand end of the hammer piston, via the groove 211 and passage 25, so that pressure is applied to move the piston to the right. The movement of the piston to the position indicated in Fig. 2 uncovers the end of the exhaust passage 26, such exhaust passage leading to the rear end 0f the machine and having its rear end open in the normal operation .of the apparatus.

The throttle valve 6 as illustrated in Fig. 3 consists in a hollow tapered plug held upon its sea't by the air pressure, and provided with a handle 27. A ball 28 fits in recesses in the plate 29 carried by the handle, and serves to maintain the valve yieldingly. in the variouspositions to which it is turned, the ball 8 being springheld'as illustrated, and constituting a construction well known in the art.

The throttle valve has three different positions of use, such positions being illustrated in Figs/1, 5, and 6. In order to lead to a clearer understanding of the structure the showing in Figs. 4, 5, andv 6 is somewhat diagrammatic,l the various passages being` placed all inthe same plane, and in some cases being somewhat displaced from their actual positions lin the machine, in order.

lnot to 'overlap and cause confusion. Referring first to the passages leading from the valve 6. as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, 12 is the .passage heretofore referred to, leading to the valve 5 and serving to supply lluid for operating the piston hammer; 30 is the passage leading to the mechanism for rotating the 4chuck and drill steel and includin piston 9 and valve,10 (see Fig. 1) 26 Is the exhaust passage leading from the front end of the cylinder and heretofore referred to; and 31 is a passage leading to the chamber 19 at'the left hand end of the valve 5 (Fig.

1). The introduction of this assage 31 constitutes one of the features o my invention, and lwhen air is admitted through this assage 3-1'.to.the chamber 19 the valve 5 iield in its right hand position las indicated v in Fig. 1, thus permitting a constant su ply of air through the passage 18 to the ront end of the piston hammer 2, so that suchy lpiston hammer is held in its position at the the left hand end of the cylinder until the passage 31 is cut off from its supply of air.

The valve 6 occupies the position indicated at Fig. 4, when the machine is irst started. At this time the passage 32 through the center of the plug which is supplied with air, is in communication with the passage 30 by reason of the passage or port 33, while a small amount of opening is secured between the passage 34 and the passage 12. At the same time the exhaust passage 26 is .placed in free communication with the outer air, by reason of the passages 35 and 36. At this time the machine runs light. Sullicient air passes from the passage 34 to the passage 12 to operate the hammer piston 2 lightly, and air supplied through the passage 30 serves to actuate the piston 9 and give the chuck 8 and drill steel 7 their stepby-step rotation. i

If now it is desired to stop the operation of the hammer piston while still permitting the drill rotating mechanism to operate, and while permitting a iiow of air throu h the drill steel the valve is moved to tie position indicated in Fig. 5. This movement permits of a full supply of air to flow to the passage 12, but at the same timel the .passage 37 is brought into communication vwith the passage 31, andthe air supplied to the chamber 19 in the valve cylinder serves to hold the valve in the position indicated in Fig. 1. When the valve 'is in this position the air supplied through the inclined passage 15 passes to the front end of the.cylinder by way of the grooves 16 andl? and the passage 1 8. This supply of air-serves to hold the hammer piston in its left hand position, and the air thus supplied into the cylinder from the passage 18 is' discharged through the passages 38 and 39 in the anvil. and drill steel respectively, such draft of air serving to blow away the dust which accumulates in the drilling operation. Referring again to Fig. 5, it will be noted that when the valve is in the position illustrated the passage 35 is out of registration with the ends of the passages 26 and 36, so that the exhaust passage 26 is closed at its rear end. This is'an obviously desirable arrangement, as otherwise a part .of the air supplied to the front end of the cylinder .would discharge through this passage inhaust passage 26 is connected to the passage 36 by means of the passage 40. At this time the full supply of air is directed to the passage 12, and to the passage 30, so that the drill rotating mechanism and the hammer piston are operated at full speed. It will be seen from the foregoing that by the provision of the passage 31 controlled by the throttle valve and by the provision of the means for controlling the exhaust from the throttle valve a very convenientJ method of operation is secured, since in order to stop the operation of the hammer piston while still continuing the operation of the drill rotating mechanism and the supply of air through the drill steel, it is only necessary to move the valve to the position indicated in Fig. 5, at which time a full supply of air is directed through the drill steel. When it is desired to stop all flow of fluid through the throttle valve it is rotated slightly counter clockwise from of the passages l2 and 30. The one movement of the throttle valve secures the stopping of the hammer piston, the closing of theeXhaust, and consequently a full supply of air at maximum pressure through the drill steel, thus insuring economy of air and an effective cleaning' of the hole being drilled.

The arrangement of the ports and passages as illustrated in Figs. 4, '5, and 6, is merely one of a number which might be made for securing the same results, the invention being directed broadly to the provision of means whereby the movement of the throttle stops the movement of the main valve and preferably at the same time blanks the lexhaust. The invenltion is not limited to the type of valve 5, but contemplates any ,valve having a back-and-forth movement, and further contemplat s the use of any and all means whereby'unba anced pressure is secured upon the pressure receiving surfaces of the valve to stop it continuously inl one position. Furthermore the invention is not limited to the use of a fluid pressure means for securing the stoppage of the main valve by a movement of the throttle valve, but contemplates any and all kinds of connecttions-fluid and otherwise-whereby the movement of the throttle valve to one position stops the main `valve in one extreme, while permitting a flow of fluid pressure to one end of the hammer piston. The invention is also applicable to other kinds of machines.

1What I claim is l. In combination in a Huid-actuated machine, a hammer piston, a. fluid-operatedmain valve movable back and forth and controlling the admission of fluid pressure alternately to the two ends of the hammer piston, a throttle valve controlling the adof pressure receiving surfaces to move the yvalve in opposite directions and arranged to `able back and forth and provided with a ipair-of pressure receiving surfaces to move vthrottle valve controlling the admission of chine, a hammer piston, a main valve movable back and forth and provided with a pair admit fluid pressure alternately to the tw'o ends of the hammer piston, a throttle valve 'controlling the admission `of fluid pressure `to the machine, and means controlled by the throttle valve when in one position whereby the fluid pressure upon the two pressure receiving surfaces is unbalanced and the main valve held continuously in one eXtreme of movement, while fluid pressure is continuously applied to one end of the hammer I piston. the position of Fig. 4, this blanking the ends 3. In combination in a fluid-actuated machine, a hammer piston, a main valve movthe valve in opposite directions and arranged to admit fluid pressure alternately to the two ends of the hammer piston, a

fluid pressure to the machine, and connecting passages controlled by the throttle valve for securing continuous 'balanced' pressure upon the said pressure receiving surfaces and preventing the movement of the main valve from one extreme of movement while fluid pressure is'supplied past the throttle valve to one end of the piston hammer.

4. In combination in a fluid-actuated machine, a hammer piston, a main valve movable back and forth for controlling the move- :ments of the hammer piston provided with :a pair of pressure receiving surfaces to move it 1n opposite directions and arranged so that the application of pressiireto such sur- :faces is controlled by the lhammer piston,

and a throttle valve controlling the admis- .sion of fluid pressure to the machine and v.arranged in one position to permit the constant supply of fluid pressure to one of the said pressure receiving surfaces and stop the operation of the main valve and the hammer piston.

5. In a fluid-actiiated drilling machinel provided with a cylinder and hollow drill steel, a hammer piston, a main Huid-operated valve for controlling the movements of the hammer piston provided with a pair of vpressure receiving surfaces to move it in opposite directions', and arranged so that the 125 application of-'pressure to such surfaces is controlled by the hammer piston, and' a throttle valve adapted in one position to admit fluid pressure'continually through the machine and the hollow drill steel and, also 130 `of pressure receiving surfaces to move it 1n arranged so that While' maintained in such position the pressure receiving surfaces of the main valve areexposed to unbalanced fluid pressure to stop the movement of such valve in one 'extreme of movement and of the hammer piston.

6. In a fluid-actuated drill machine provided withla cylinder and hollow drill steel with its passage communicating with the front end of the cylinder, a main valve movable back and forth and arranged in one position to admit fluid pressure to one end of the cylinder and in its other position toadmit fluid pressure to the other endof the cylinder, the said valve having a pair opposite directions, and a throttle valve arlranged so that when in one position fluid pressure is admitted to one of the said pressure-receiving surfaces to hold the main valve in one extreme 'of movement, and simultaneously fluid pressure is admitted past the main valve to the front end of the cylin- .der and through the hollow drill steel.

' rear portion of the machine, and a throttle valve arranged so that when in one position it (1) closes the said exhaust passage, (2) admits a constant supply-of fluid pressure to one ofthe said pressure receiving surfaces thus holding the main valve in one extreme of movement and stopping the movement of' the hammer piston, and admits fluid pressure past the main valve to the front end `of the cylinder and through the hollow drill steel.

8. In a fluid-actuated drilling machine provided with a cylinder and a hollow drill steel with its passage communicating with 'the frontend of the cylinder, a fluid-operated means /for rotating the drill steel, a hammer piston, `a main valve movable back and forth and arranged in one position to admit `fluid pressure to one end of the cylinder and in its other position to admit fluid pressure to the other-,end of the cylinder, the said valve having a pair of pressure receiving surfaces to move it in opposite directions, a supply passage leading to the said ,fluid-operated rotating means, an exhaust leading from the front end of the cylinder, and a throttle valve arranged so that in one position it (1) opens the said supply passage, (2) closes the said exhaust passage,

(3) admits a constant supply of fluid pressure to one of the said pressure receiving surfaces, thus holding the main valve in one extreme off movement and stopping the move.- ment of the hammer piston, and (4) admits fluid pressure past the main valve to the front end of the cylinder and through the hollow drill steel.

, 9. In combination in a drilling machine, a cylinder, a hollow drill steel, a hammer piston, a main valve for controlling the admission of fluid pressure alternately to the two ends of the hammer piston, an exhaust passage, and a throttle valve, the said throttle valve in one position admitting fluid to operate the main valve and hammer piston with the exhaust passage uncovered, and in another position closing the exhaust, admitting fluid pressure continuously to one end of the main valve to stop the movement of such valve and permitting fluid pressure to flow continuously through the cylinder and hollow drill steel.

' 10. In combination in a fluid actuated machine, a hammer piston, a throttle valve controlling the admission of fluid pressure to the machine, a fluid operated automatic valve controlling the operation of the hamm'er piston, and connections whereby the movement of the throttle valve secures the stopping of the said automatic valve and the piston in one extreme of movement. l

11. In combination in a fluid actuated machine, a hammer piston, a throttle valve controlling the admission of fluid pressure to the machine, a fluid operatedv automatic valve controlling the operation of the hammer piston, and connections whereby' -the movement of the throttle valve secures the stopping of the said automatic valvel and the piston in one extremeA of movement, while fluid pressure is admitted past the throttle to one end of the hammer cylinder.

12. In combination in a fluid actuated machine having a cylinder provided With an exhaust passage and a hollow drill steel with its passage in communication with the said cylinder, a hammer piston, a throttle valve controlling the admission of fluid pressure to the machine, connections whereby the movement of the throttle valve secures the stopping of the piston in one extreme of movement While admitting fluid pressure to the cylinder and through the drill steel, the throttle valve being arranged when in such position to close the said exhaust passage.

13. In combination in a fluid actuated machine having a cylinder provided with an exhaust passage and a hollow drill steel with its passage in communication with the said cylinder, a hammer piston, fluid-operated means for vrotating the drill steel, connections for supplying fluid pressure lto the cylinder kand drill rotating' means, and

means for simultaneously closing the ex- I means' and while permitting the passage of fluid tothe cylinder and through the drill steel.'

In testimony whereof I have hereunto' signed my name in the presence of the two subscribed witnesses. p

LOUIS W.' GREVE.

Witnesses:

111.00m, J. DE Moor.` 

